Welcome to East Hampton Connecticut and to the East Hampton Public Library's weblog! Stop by anytime to learn about new services and programs or simply to take a look at what's new in the world of East Hampton readers, viewers, and listeners. We offer public service posts when we can and welcome your comments and suggestions.
About H-Irene
The library will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 27 but will close at 4 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.
Town Government H-Irene News
Visit the Town of East Hampton's Facebook Page for info on town shelter and who to call. As H-Irene moves up the East Coast, stay safe, everyone.
The Songwriter as Poet Join us for a two-part, scholar-led discussion series focused on the poetry in the songs of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen.
Cultural Conversations @your library As artists, both Dylan and Cohen produced bodies of work that rank with the best popular music of the past half-century. We’ll explore the close relationship between music and poetry and sample sound recordings while we discuss the artistry, influence, and timelessness of these living legends of music and verse.
To Register Click here to register for the Dylan program (Tuesday, September 13) and here for the Cohen program (Tuesday, October 11). Bring your appreciation for the artists and a story to tell about how their lyrics and music influenced you.
Our Discussion Moderator David Garnes is graduate of Brown University and Columbia University. He taught English in NY private schools and served as a librarian at Columbia University and UConn, Storrs, retiring in 2001. David is a published author and facilitates literature programs for the Connecticut Humanities Council. For the past decade, he has worked part-time at the Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst.
In September, the library will add three new passes to its list of money-saving circulating museum passes. Other than Middletown's Kid City (pass unavailable for purchase), these are the three most-requested passes we've been asked to add to our menu.
New England Air Museum
The New England Air Museum has two huge display hangars housing more than 70 aircraft from all periods of history as well as an outdoor exhibit area. Discounted admission for 2 adults and 2 children (ages 6-11) free.
Mark Twain House & Museum
Guided tours are available of this 19-room, Tiffany decorated mansion, where Mark Twain raised his family and worked from 1874-1891, writing many of his famous stories. The pass admits one adult or two children with the purchase of one adult admission.
Harriet Beecher Stowe House
The Stowe Center is the home of the author of the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It includes three historic buildings surrounded by gorgeous gardens: the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the Carriage House, and the Katharine Seymour Day House. Pass admits two.
More to come on new passes and do watch for forthcoming combo deals which will allow you to check out two complementary passes at a time.
Say What?
Experts at the Mark Twain House & Museum describe "steampunk" best:
"Steampunk"? Steampunk is the future as imagined through the eyes of the past. It is mechanical gears and boilers, dirtiness mixed with shininess of brass and copper with the deep red of cherrywood. It is a time for tea and gadgets, airships and ether. Steampunk is a trip to the moon through the barrel of a cannon. It is progeny of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells finding their voice in fiction, fashion and music. Steampunk is all of these things, none of them and more. Steampunk is "punk".
Coming this Fall to the Mark Twain House and Museum
Beginning October 1, 2011, visit the Steampunk Bizarre exhibit at the Twain House. Thanks to your ongoing support for the Friends of the Library "Second Hand Prose" summer book sale rack, we'll be adding the Twain Museum pass to our menu of money-saving pass options in early September, if not before.
Steampunk Art
If you are interested in the how-to end of steampunk art or the glory of major steampunk artists, click here and enjoy.
Steampunk Fiction and Films
Steampunk owes more than a short salute to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and The Time Machine. Since you've asked, expect follow-up recommendations for steampunk books and films, both classic and contemporary...
"Candy doesn't have to have a point. That's why it's candy." ~ Charlie Bucket
Did you know that chocolate grows on trees?! In a matter of speaking it does. The beans of the cacao plant, mostly found in Central America, are ground up (then a few extra ingredients are added) to make chocolate. Central American natives drank the ground cacao powder in a drink sometimes with a dash of pepper, but never any sweetner. It was considered a luxury!
Participate in Chocolate : Workshop for Kids If you are entering grade 4-6 in the fall, join us on August 11th to learn how to make chocolate lollipops while you gain a little chocolate business savvy. Kim Larkin, of CT-based gourmet chocolate company Klassic Kreations, leads the workshop. Click here to register for this free event.
Xbox 360 Added to the Mix...
About a year ago, we began putting together a collection of console video games. The collection has grown more slowly than we (and you) would probably like. Much of this has to do with pricing and the fantastically large number of titles that disappear from the market shortly after issue. (We like lowest price and titles likely to endure/hold gamer interest over time.)
Keep on Gaming
The number of circulating games hasn't yet impacted the popularity of our lending program and by request, August brings the introduction of circulating games for Xbox 360. Wii and PS3 titles will continue to lean toward E titles for Everyone; Xbox titles will start with E titles and lean toward T for Teen titles by mid-autumn. Suggestions for purchase are always welcomed at the front desk.
Circulation Conditions
Yes -- da-da-dah -- there are some rules. Games are loaned to adult cardholders only. The loan period is a very liberal 14 days, 1 per card, holds permitted, no renewals.
If You Haven't Yet Heard...
Our town is one of 14 municipalities in our state participating in the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy program, which challenges residents to reduce their energy consumption by 20 percent by 2013.
Marking Our Place
When you participate in the program, you help win points for our town. Total points may help our town earn energy-saving prizes. As of mid-July, about 200 local households had signed up to participate and our current point total on the Energy Challenge Leaderboard is 11,000. With a goal to involve 10 percent of homes, or 450 households, let's get busy!
Home Energy Solutions
Home Energy Solutions (HES) is the best way to fully understand how your home is wasting energy. Right now, you can participate in this state-sponsored service valued at around $750 for a co-pay of only $75! This in-depth assessment will not only provide you with weatherization, CFLs, and other energy improvements, but qualifies you for rebates and renewable energy (solar) incentives. Watch the video, below, to see what you get for $75.
If you like what you see in the video, click here to sign up for an HES assessment or pass the information on to a friend. Please note, if you are on a fixed or limited income, you may qualify for this service for free.
Also check out latest news on green initiatives from our community's all-volunteer Clean Energy Task Force.
